The Steel Guitar Forum

Another experiment in my ongoing quest to butcher classical music on the Weissenborn, here's my take on Sheharazade, Rimsky-Korsakov's classic Arabesque tone poem in open D tuning. It's a head arrangement distillation of some of the main themes. This puppy runs something like 6:30 so it's up to you whether to hang in or not. Larry Coryell arranged it for standard guitar in the 80s and published the arrangement in Guitar Player Magazine in monthly installments. This is mostly by ear except for a few parts I unashamedly ripped-off from Larry.

http://home.comcast.net/~aevolk/MyRecor ... razade.mp3

?????? was hoping for some feedback ..... good or bad .....

Plenty feedback on the IGS forum!
Have you written a TAB for this? I'd like to have a butcher's if you have...

And very nice feedback it is I was thinking that I'd better write it out while I have some memory of the arrangement 'cause it's all in my head at moment. I've forgotten tons of musical stufff over the yeasr from being too lazy to get it down on paper and thinking I'd remember it six months later. I'll post it when I do.

It's not my kind of music but I found myself listening to the whole piece.
Very nicely done.
Don

I've butchered a classic or two in my time. Very satisfying... Actually, that's a much cleaner job of carving than you let on, Andy-- I enjoyed the variety in the arrangement, the harmonics and "arabian" filigree. Of the playing you've posted, I think this is the piece that works best in solo performance. A little tinkering & some polishing and you'd have a strong "stand-alone" tune for weissenborn.

In that spirit, and not to nitpick, my last bit of feedback is that some of the faster chord sequences (like between 1:20 and 1:45) to me sound "choppy" when you grab each chord separately...this impression is magnified by the lack of sonic "cushioning" that can be provided by the presence of other instruments...possibly sliding into the 2nd chord in a series might work better, or some other way to leaven with legato. OTOH, that may not be what you're going for at all

Anyway-- pretty cool. If "butchery" is your quest you'll just hafta try harder!

Thanks, Steve - very helpful nitpicks, actually. I appreciate your taking time to give me feedback.

Well, I like it a lot - I'm keeping this on my computer for further reference, if that's OK.

For what it is - a demo - I don't really have anything to criticise. The playing and arrangement could be smoothed out, but personally I like the slightly rough feel. It adds a bit of tension to the piece, you're never quite sure where it's going - and I mean that as a compliment.

I play a lot of bottleneck in open D and I'm quite a fan of "exotic" music, so you've given me some new ideas to consider. There's a flamenco feel in there which is really nicely done - I don't remember the original very clearly, so I might seek one out for comparison.

Oh, thanks for your recommendations the other day, too, I'll be working through that list as time and money permits. Very helpful and much appreciated.

That's terrific playing, Andy! I like hearing all the techniques used in steel playing applied to classical. Very creative and executed almost perfectly.

Same goes for your Flaxen-haired Girl post.

The only thing I didn't like is the sound of the guitar. Just personal - the Weissenborn does nothing for me, no matter who plays it. Especially compared to the rich tone of a classical guitar.

Thanks for your comments, guys. I'm not really much into classical music these days so it's challenging to try something different - especially when one is too lazy to practice!

FYI ...Larry Coryell's 80s recording of Sheherazade (on standard guitar) is back in print. Amazon has it on a Phiilips Japanese import CD packaged with his version of Ravel's Bollero, played on an Adamas 12 string. Even though It has the awful, quacky Ovation piezo tone it's a brilliant arrangement, brilliantly played and I definitely lifted what licks I could from it.

http://www.amazon.com/Scheherazade-Bole ... B00000GBFN

Very nice Andy, and I love the Tone of that guitar!